I've been a part of this community for almost four years now, it was here that I discovered that people actually cared about games and those who develop them and it was here that my love of games reached critical mass.

As somebody who has chronic depression, video games were what kept me going. These amazing pieces of art were what kept me going when my depression was at its worst. It was here that I began to admire the people behind these games. I credit games for my current quality of life. Playing through games with amazing stories made me want to go back to writing fiction which I had abandoned earlier, the intricately amazing level design within these games that made me want to do the same and of course, the friends I've made, amazing individuals with whom I never plan to lose contact with.

I graduated high-school with honors in Commerce and Marketing. As I sat with brochures for a marketing college, while I studied the details of their noted alumni and their jobs, I came upon a realization. This is not what I wanted to do. I did not want to do marketing. I knew what I wanted to do.

I wanted to make games.

Two years ago, I put my mind into learning the process of game creation and mastery of the tools that do so. I am happy to break the news here that I am working on a game that is set to be a commercial release and I'm working alongside my awesome friend Lance(Prof_Smash). A detailed reveal of the game is coming soon and you guys will be the first to get the details. Treat this as my humbled 'thank-you' for all the support and help you guys have given me over the years.

PoorPigg tagged me to re-make one of these and seeing as how my last one was quite different from what I feel and do now, I though it would perhaps be a good idea to do a profile blog.

First off, here's a picture.

Real Name - Harsh Gupta

Age - 20

Nicknames - Harshy, Niner and Gupt.

Race - Human from Sector 2814

Reason behind the username- 17 year old me wasn't very creative

Best MyIGN Friends - Lance (Prof_Smash), Luna (Indie11), Jayden(Toews1987) and PoorPigg stand out. There are other awesome people here too but the above individuals stand out.

MyIGN crush - umm... Nobody really comes to mind.

MyIGN Arch-Enemy - Bram00 of house Bramminess, first of his name.

Hobbies - Video Games, Comic books, Novels and scripted podcasts

Pets - None right now but planning on adopting a German Shepherd pup soon. I had a dozen Guinea Pigs half a decade ago but decided to transfer them to the family farm after I noticed them having problems living in the city. I'm glad I did. They are healthy as ever and several generations of them exist now. Also, my original dozen are still alive and well which makes me happy.

Pet Peeves - People listening to loud crappy music in transit, book enthusiasts who have read nothing but Twilight, and most young adult novels.

Television Shows - Malcolm in The Middle HANDS DOWN. I grew up watching this and still do a yearly marathon for it. I recon I have seen the entire series at least a dozen times by now. While Bryan Cranston did a fantastic job as Walter White, I will always remember him as Hal Wilkerson.

Anime - Not much into anime but I have watched most of Hayao Miyazaki's and studio ghibli's work.

Music - Sun Araw, The Sex Pistols(an homage to the depressing teenage years), The Strokes and Armin Van Buuren.

Some Random Facts

It is no secret that I dislike the suit and tie and the corporate world. Funnily enough, I passed out of high school with marketing and finance as my highest scoring subject and was trying to get into the business world before video game development came along.

I read a lot. I try to read at least one novel every week. I do this digitally and buy second hands to avoid really expensive new physical books. If I like the book, I buy the physical version for the display.

I can get away with a lot of stuff. I once was able to convince an airport baggage check in officer to let me take 15 Kgs of excess baggage free of charge.

I can get along with almost everyone I meet in person.

There was a time when I was very close to making the national team for football(soccer for the Americans)

`I was diagnosed with chronic depression before my teenage years. I don't take anti-depressants, instead, I play video games to feel better.

(The template for this was stolen straight from Indie11's blog)

Also, I quite dislike these tagging events. I am not going to tag anyone. If you want to do one of these, just go ahead and do it, I'm not gonna force you to otherwise.

Over a year ago, I quit writing on this blog and soon, left writing completely. I joined an institute that promised things that it wasn't even close to delivering. Six months ago, the head professor called me a "derelict incapable of ever being a game designer", Four months ago, I delivered two games as a lead game designer which went on to be the best games the institute had seen. Two months ago, I was given a certificate for being the highest scoring game design student in my class, one month ago, I handed in my leave form from the institute.

Why am I leaving? Its simple. I am tired of being treated like a corporate pushover. I dislike marketing individuals who choose every which way to churn money out and not good games. The institute was grooming us to be able to listen to money and not to game design. As a enthusiast of video games, I couldn't accept.

Oh, and I added a new header. It's up there. You might be wondering. What's with all the Green Lantern?

Well, I have gotten to reading a lot more comics these days. Mostly DC and Image but I'm slowly getting into the Marvel and Valiant side of things. It had been almost a decade since I read comics but I'm glad I got back in. I'm enjoying almost everything.

Yep, I am back. With me dropping out of the institute and persuing my own vision of a career, I will be here more often. I'll perhaps talk about Video Games and maybe comics, who knows.

Late last year, I decided to bite the bullet and attend college. This was the culmination of my thoughts and plans about my career and future. I decided to go and do a thing I loved and that was video game development.

In less than two weeks, the academic year at my college ends. I have handed in my leave letter and do not plan to get higher education once I am out.

This isn't for the academics that I am leaving. I cleared this academic year as the undisputed highest scorer in the class. It was a matter of shock to my professors when they heard this. They went so far as to make me talk to the school therapist.

Here's the reason I am leaving - 90% Video Game developmental colleges are bullshit. The one I attend is no different.

Why are they bullshit?

This comment pretty much summarizes what you need to do.

After one year of my education here, it simply feels like the classes I attended were pure filler by professors who, for the lack of a better word, were failed game developers without a single game shipped.

Another thing I learned while here - AAA game development is a horror house. The developers are treated like crap, forced to work ungodly hours for which they aren't paid, chop creativity just to make more money. Oh, did I mention that the concept of job security is non-existent? There are way too many developers and the company can pick and choose to their convenience. Make a game that didn't sell well = no job, make a game that sells well = EA will probably buy the company and gut it(shut up Steven.) Take my word on this, within a decade, our industry will crash because of such practices and I am afraid it might be too late to do anything about it.

Despite me leaving the Triple A side of the industry, I have not lost a drop of my love and awe for Video Games. I will continue to make games, albeit not as a cog in the wheel.

Also, this Wednesday will be the time when the Wannabe Game Designers Podcast comes to an end.

I turn 20 next week. I should be depressed and worried. I am not. I have plans in place and hard work to back it up, I have projects in the oven that I am excited to be working on, I have a good name within my national indie game development community and a good relation with other fantastic individuals.